The preliminary objections raised by the defence over the bribery case filed against former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and former State Printing Corporation (SPC) Chairman Jayampathi Heenkenda, was yesterday rejected by the Colombo High Court.
The order was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta and the case was fixed for trial on July 22.
On a previous occasion, the Colombo High Court served indictments to the two accused alleging that they caused a loss to the government by paying nearly Rs. 230,000 from State Printing Corporation funds towards Rambukwella’s mobile phone bill, while he was serving as Mass Media Minister in 2012.
Following serving the indictments, the accused were ordered to be released on cash bails of Rs. 30,000 and sureties of Rs. 350,000 by Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta.
The Bribery Commission filed indictments in the Colombo High Court against former Health Minister Rambukwella and former State Printing Corporation Chairman Heenkenda alleging that they have committed an offence of corruption under the Bribery Act during the period from May 01 to 30, 2012, while Rambukwella was acting as Mass Media Minister, causing a loss to the government by forcing officials to pay an amount of Rs. 230,000 towards Rambukwella’s mobile phone bill.
Dilshan Tharaka